Farmers advised to take keen interest in the fish farming

Domeabra (Ash), June 3, GNA- Farmers have been advised to take keen interest in fish farming since it is cheaper compared to other farming ventures.

Nana Kwaku Siaw, Managing Director of the Kumah Farms complex who gave the advice explained that, fish farming unlike crop and animal rearing, requires a little finance for the industry. He was speaking on Wednesday at a three-day workshop, organised by the Kumah Farms Complex, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), for selected fish farmers in the southern part of the country.

Kumah Farms Complex has about 14 fishponds, cattle, peacocks, and an orchard.

The workshop was designed to update the skills and experience of the fish farmers in fish nursery, hatchery and fattening and new techniques associated with aquaculture.

Nana Siaw stressed the importance of fish farming, saying apart from increasing and providing farmers with income, the industry also improved the food content of Ghanaians.

"Over dependence on the streams, rivers and the high seas for fish is not reliable, since it is seasonal and could not by fully relied upon at all times", he cautioned.

Mr Robert Ashitey Armah, a Senior Technical Officer of the Fisheries Department in Kumasi, advised farmers who are desirous to take to fish farming to contact the department for technical guidance and advice.

This is because the quality of water and type of fish to stock in ponds were important.

Mr Peter A. Ashong, Chairman of the Wassa-West Fish Farmers Association, commended the FAO, for the recent study tour organised for some selected fish farmers to Uganda and Thailand, and the workshop at the Kumah Farms Complex.